In a recent government meeting led by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, key strategies were discussed to advance the president’s initiative of planting 2bn trees across Kazakhstan. This goal aims to expand the state forest fund and enhance the country’s environmental health.

Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev and various regional akims (mayors) presented updates on the progress made so far. Since 2021, approximately 970mn seedlings have been planted, contributing to an increase of 267,000 hectares of forested land over five years. 

Bektenov highlighted the critical importance of this initiative, stating, “Expanding the area of forests and parks, preserving biological diversity for future generations are among the important priorities in improving the environmental situation.”

To meet the target of planting an additional 1bn seedlings by the end of 2027, the Prime Minister stressed the need for improved methods in planting activities and effective coordination between akimats (city administration) and the Ministry of Ecology. He also emphasized the importance of rigorous planning and the necessity to enhance survival rates of the newly planted trees.

Addressing the issue of transparency, Bektenov called for stringent measures against any akimats that provide misleading information regarding the number of seedlings planted. 

“We must ensure that accurate data reflects our efforts in increasing the forest fund,” he asserted.

Earlier it was reported that the government was focusing on fire prevention and forest protection. Recent major wildfires revealed deficiencies in forestry organizations’ preparedness. 

As a response, Kazakhstan has allocated KZT 52bn ($106.7mn) to purchase 1,384 units of fire-fighting equipment and 921 units of trailers and mounted equipment, marking a significant investment in forest fire management.